WildHBcommunity: Chuck Fletcher Handles Josh Harding Situation Perfectly
Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher Activates Josh Harding to Waive Him
Honestly I think many of us believed Josh Harding would be playing in a rotation with Niklas Backstrom at the expense of Darcy Kuemper. Beyond Harding having been the best goalie in the NHL for the first 2 months of the season last year, how would the Wild navigate the public relations ramifications of waiving guy with a human interest angle like that?
When Harding kicked a wall breaking his foot this summer it really changed the dynamics of how his handling by the organization could proceed in my opinion. Harding has always been loyal to the Wild and the franchise has held him in high esteem for a very long time but the brutal reality is there was just no way either side should/could commit to each other this year given the circumstances.
Harding previous to his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, was afforded the opportunity to test the unrestricted free agent market just as he was prime age and arguably the best young netminder available. Harding instead committed to the Wild with a stated purpose to fulfill his goal to become the #1 backstop here in the 'State of Hockey' BEFORE this became a relevant destination for free agent talent.
That being said after 2 seasons of attempting to manage and overcome illness associated with multiple sclerosis, it became clear the Wild and Harding were on a crash course of some harsh realities of the business side of the NHL. Ultimately that confrontation was put on hold by Harding breaking his foot which allowed the franchise to get Kuemper under contract and in the lineup enough to see he is the #1 goalie here now.
Suspending Harding for a Non-Hockey Injury was an interesting move by Fletcher which in my mind closed the door on Harding ever playing a game in a Minnesota Wild jersey again. That's how the James Sheppard era ended here in Minnesota as well. Harding is said to be recovered and ready to resume hockey activities leading to some thoughts he would head to Des Moines to complete a conditioning assignment before returning to the NHL. Instead Harding was activated and waived making him available to every NHL team before a 11am deadline tomorrow.
Fletcher is very calculated in his movement so I have to wonder if another NHL franchise is considering claiming Harding? Even if he is not claimed the ramifications of going this route with him, affect the team on many levels. This a HUGE vote of confidence in Kuemper by Fletcher which I have written about it previously but that is his guy. Also this closes the door on Harding for NOW but not forever with the Wild should he clear waivers and report to the 'Baby Wild' this week.
I still believe Harding has NHL talent and could find himself back up I-35 this year especially if Kuemper or Backstrom go down like we saw occur last season but it is still interesting to see Fletcher act so decisively here. Harding is a very high profile player because of his popularity with the fan base and unprecedented battle to keep his NHL dream alive while living with MS.
I am not sure Fletcher could have handled this situation any better though, it is a true testament to his ability to have a vision that accounts for short, intermediate, and long term in his day to day decision making process as the top personnel man for the Wild. While I am still shocked that Harding was put on waivers, if he clears it still provides the Wild an opportunity to have him in the organization and at their disposal. If he gets claimed well then he gets to continue to chase his NHL dream without the Wild being the bad guy.
Obviously the Anaheim Mumps played a large role in forcing Fletcher's hand to make a decision on a netminder because carrying 3 on one-way contracts on the 23 man roster was just never going to work. Still though this is pretty significant considering it looked like the Wild and Fletcher were painted into a corner by the set of circumstances that come with Harding as a player and person.
Bravo!
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Tony Dean
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